Special Occasions & HolidaysCompiled by: Mrs. Sheffield

Warm-Up:

•Name as many special occasions as you can when you could give floral arrangements

Types of Occasions

•Include but not limited to:▫Birth of a baby▫Dinner party▫Anniversary▫Birthday▫Holiday: Thanksgiving, Valentine’s Day▫Graduation ▫Mother’s Day

Implications to the Floral Industry

•Much of the floral industry business is seasonal▫Revolves around holidays / special occasions

•Traditional “flower giving” days referred to as “floral holidays” because of increase in sales in the days prior and during these days▫Valentine’s Day & Mother’s Day

•Flowers convey message of love, friendship, and respect

Expressing Sentiment with Flowers

•Flowers are versatile gifts▫Touch human heart transcend speech

•Many thoughts/feelings expressed more easily with flowers than any other gift

•Speak international language, understood by all peoples of the world

Expressing Sentiment with Flowers (cont.)•Express sincere, honest emotion, any day

for any occasion, without use of words•Power to say:

▫“Thank you”, “I appreciate your friendship”, “Please forgive me”, “My thoughts are with you”, “You’re not alone

Expressing Sentiment with Flowers (cont.)•When designing, consider message

it will be “speaking” •Understanding message helps you

carefully select flowers, foliage, container, accessories, and total style and look of the bouquet

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Seasonal Themes•Spring, summer, autumn, winter•Most commercially grown flowers available

year-round, some abundant during one season▫Cost

•Seasonal flowers: only grown outdoors and harvested from a tree▫Limited to plant’s natural growth and flowering

cycles▫Examples: Acacia, magnolia, forsythia, cherry

blossoms

Seasonal Flowers

•Grown in large quantities for particular seasons

•Give variety and distinction to everyday designs

•Examples: tulips, zinnias, poinsettias

1. Spring

•Rainbow of colors•Pastel and intense, classic complementary

combination of purples and yellows, for example

•Colorful bulb flowers popular:▫Crocus, daffodils, hyacinths, tulips

•Unique to spring:▫Flowering branches of forsythia, quince,

acacia, lilac, snowball, catkins of willow, birch, and alder

1. Spring (cont.)

•Usually informal style of arranging•Simple glass vase, basket, uncomplicated

container

2. Summer

•Longest of the floral seasons•Flowers most vibrant in color•Examples:

▫Bright blue delphiniums and cornflowers, red peonies, roses, and zinnias, radiant orange calendulas and marigolds, golden lilies and sunflowers

2. Summer (cont.)

•Wildflowers, tall grasses, trailing vines of varying colors, textures, and shapes are natural fillers

•Vases feature brilliant colors or bold textures and forms harmonize well with colorful flowers

•Full, massed, overflowing bouquets of mixed garden flowers common

•Take advantage of what’s growing outdoors then mix with commercially grown material

3. Autumn

•Warm, deep hues of reds, oranges, golden-yellows, and browns

•Chrysanthemums, dahlias, gladiolus florets▫Long-lasting, abundant in fall months

•Time of harvest▫Colorful vegetables and fruit combined

with flowers▫Wheat, barley, other grains used as well

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3. Autumn (cont.)

•Natural-looking vases and containers•Baskets, earthenware pots, terra cotta

bowls, and wooden trays classic, remain popular•Natural tones harmonize with warm-colored flowers

4. Winter

•Fewer flowers•Evergreen and conifer trees and shrubs

retain foliage throughout the year•Juniper, pine, cedar, yew, mahonia, and

ivy

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4. Winter (cont.)

•Berries available in just about every color•Bright red of cotoneaster, skimmia, and

holly contrast with foliage•Wide range of year-round commercially

grown flowers available from around the world will easily supplement the lack of flowers in frosty climates

•Containers are simple and muted in color

Theme Designs for Special Occasions

•Not associated with season or holiday•Examples:

▫Birth of a baby▫Graduation▫Wedding anniversary▫Birthday

New Baby

•In western cultures, pink associated with femininity and blue associated with masculinity

•Miniature carnations, spray roses, daisies, sweet peas, and button mums

•Filler flowers: baby’s breath, waxflower, heather

•Grand rose arrangements / large designs also popular for honoring new baby and mother

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New Baby (cont.)

•Often made in novelty ceramic containers •Accessories include bottles, pacifiers,

bibs, balloons, and plush toys•Vary from “cute” to “high style” •Colors, flowers, and accessories are changing

▫Be creative

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Birthday

•Mixed arrangements, monobouquets (one type of flower only, such as just roses, or gerbera daisies, etc.), boxed flowers, hand-tied bouquets, wrapped flowers, corsages/boutonnieres •Brightly colored flowers, party horns/hats,

streamers•Balloon bouquets also popular with

flowers

Graduation

•Sentimental time signifying hard work, accomplishment, and new beginnings•Elementary school, high school, college•Flowers given to express congratulations•Variety of styles

▫Arrangements, boxed flowers, wrapped flowers, and leis

Anniversary

•Any date on which a memorable event occurred▫Engagement, wedding, office opening, etc.

•Most popular is wedding anniversary•Some couples carry on tradition of giving each other the same number of flowers in a monobouquet

▫Symbolic of number of years married

Anniversary (cont.)

•Anniversary parties/dinners held for couples married a certain number of years▫25th – silver anniversary▫50th – golden anniversary

•Select containers accordingly

Recognition & Honor

•Accomplishing certain goal or celebrating a coming retirement

•Flowers/bouquets tied with ribbon or wrapped in cellophane or paper popular to recognize /honor people for performance of duties or activities

•High achievements in athletics, beauty contests, performances in music, dance, theater, other cultural presentations

Recognition & Honor (cont.)

•Single rose or other flower to rounded floral cluster (hand-tied bouquet)

•Larger, one-sided bouquet – presentation bouquet

Recognition & Honor (cont.)

•Hand-tied bouquets▫Generally appear the same on all sides▫Massed/rounded

•Presentation/arm bouquets▫One-sided & tall▫Individual flower heads separate▫Elegant occasions/ formal presentation

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Get Well & Hospital Designs

•Can brighten hospital stays or time recuperating

•Consider size, many spaces are small where they will be displayed▫Does not mean they need to look cheap and

boring•Allow individual blooms to be seen•Use fewer flowers in design or use a few

showy, tropical flowers•Use tall, long-stemmed flowers for

impressive display

Get Well & Hospital Designs (cont.)•Must be “low

maintenance”▫No box flowers, or

hand-tied bouquets•Containers should

allow adequate water supply

•Patient should not have to worry about adding water

Get Well & Hospital Designs (cont.)•Use long-lasting flowers•If using lilies, remove anthers, which stain

clothing and skin•Avoid strong fragrances, may nauseate

patient•Understand hospital rules and regulations

▫Latex balloons not permitted due to allergic reactions

▫Flowers/plants not allowed in intensive care unit to keep area clean and sterile

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Novelty Designs

•Often made entirely out of flower heads•Offer a whimsical, delightful way of expressing a theme or message•Made with short-stemmed or broken

flowers•Fairly quick/easy to make•Cost-effective and profitable for florists•Examples: ice cream soda, cakes, kittens,

dogs, bunnies, ladybugs, clowns

Novelty Designs (cont.)

•Must have sturdy, functional foundation that will not tip, spill water, or cause flowers to wilt prematurely•Soaked floral foam can be cut to shape

foundation•Chenille stems (pipe cleaner), plastic eyes

and noses, ribbon, and other accessories can be glued onto, or inserted into, flowers for further detail

Floral Holidays

•Days associated with the giving and receiving of flowers▫Some geared to using flowers as

decorations or tributes•Christmas: largest floral holiday phase

since flowers, plants, decorations needed during 5 week period before Christmas Day

•Most others involve single day

Floral Holidays (cont.)

•Two busiest▫Valentine’s Day & Mother’s Day

•Many lesser-known days can be fun for people to express feelings and emotions through the gift of flowers

Regional Floral Holidays

•Shops in one area will be busy during a particular holiday but others may not

•Determined by historical background and religious or cultural makeup of a geographical area

•Example:▫Memorial Day: national military cemeteries

Regional Floral Holidays (cont.)

•Example: St. Patrick’s Day▫Florists in towns with large numbers of

people of Irish descent are more busy•Know history, background, and dates of

celebrations to understand popular flowers and types of arrangements associated with floral holidays

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Honoring Family & Friends

Valentine’s Day

•Several theories of origin▫Lupercalia-ancient Roman festival and feast

connected with fertility rites▫Saint Valentine- imprisoned because he

refused to worship the gods of the Romans. Was loved by many children, tossed notes through cell bars

▫Old English legend- birds choose mates on February 14th

Valentine’s Day (cont.)

•One of the most widely observed unofficial holidays•One of the busiest for florists•Roses most popular

▫Long-stemmed, red, a dozen (12)▫Price increases

•Most popular color scheme is monochromatic with red and tints, shades, tones

Mother’s Day

•First suggestion for holiday in 1872 by Julia Ward Howe•In 1907 Anna Jarvis began campaign for nationwide observance of Mother’s Day•In 1914 Congress designates 2nd Sunday in May as Mother’s Day

Mother’s Day (cont.)

•Some regions: custom to wear a carnation ▫Red symbolizes appreciation and love for a

living mother▫White symbolizes love and respect for a

mother who has passed away•Popular colors include tints and shades of

pink and lavender

Father’s Day

•Recommended by Sonora Dodd▫Wanted to honor her father after he raised

six children after the death of his wife•First celebrated June 19th, 1910•Officially a national day of recognition in 1972 by Richard Nixon

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Father’s Day (cont.)

•Accessories that suggest a favorite hobby commonly placed in arrangements, potted plants, and dish gardens

•Examples: golf balls, golf tees, fishing lures, gardening tools, slippers, etc.

Friendship Day

•Unofficial, set aside to honor friendships and show appreciation

•Approved by Congress in 1935 for first Sunday in August each year

•Colorful summer flowers in hand-tied bouquets and wrapped flowers popular

National Grandparents Day

•First Sunday in September following Labor Day

•First observed in 1978•Recognizes/honors grandparents and

older people in general▫Helps younger generations be aware of

strength, information, and guidance older people can offer

Cultural, Historical, and Religious Holidays

New Year’s Eve & Day

•Begins December 31 with festive parties, dinners, dances, masquerade balls

•Noisemakers and fireworks reminiscent of early customs of making noise and ringing church bells to turn away evil spirits and keep them from entering the new year▫“Ringing in the New Year”

New Year’s Eve & Day (cont.)

•January 1st – New Year’s Day•Designs vary depending on purpose

▫Religious service, football watching party•Chinese New Year

▫Lasts 4 days▫Begins at sunset on the day of the second

new moon following winter solstice (Jan 21 – Feb 19)

▫Color red is one of good omens in Chinese culture, believed to ward off evil spirits

St. Patrick’s Day

•Celebrated on March 17 as both a holiday and holy day

•Occasion for Irish to pay tribute to their homeland

•St. Patrick: missionary who brought Christianity to Ireland▫Used shamrock to explain the trinity

St. Patrick’s Day (cont.)

•Many people regardless of ethnic background wear green clothing and accessories, attend parades, and celebrate at parties

•First celebrated in U.S. in Boston in 1737•Flowers for centerpieces, party

decorations, and even corsages and boutonnieres traditionally green

•Bells of Ireland, gladiolus, cymbidiums, mums, roses, carnations can be dyed

Easter

•Commemorates for Christians the resurrection of Jesus Christ

•Date varies from year to year▫Always first Sunday after date of first full

moon that occurs on/after March 21▫Marked by vernal equinox or beginning of spring▫Any Sunday between Mar 22 – Apr 25

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Easter (cont.)

•Formal/informal•Many display religious theme with Easter lilies, others place emphasis on spring•Accessories: bunnies, chicks, colored eggs•Novelty containers popular•Daffodils, tulips, lilies, flowering branches

popular

Halloween

•October 31•Historically marked beginning of season of cold, darkness, decay, associated with death•Celebrations popular beginning in 1800’s•Carving pumpkins into jack-o-lanterns,

bobbing for apples, dressing in costumes, trick-or-treating for candy

•Floral arrangements often in novelty containers

Halloween (cont.)

•Accessories popular: witches, black cats, ghosts, spiders, cobwebs

•Traditional color schemes black and orange or autumn colors

•Purple and bright chartreuse-green combines with orange and black popular today

•Scooped out pumpkin for container

Thanksgiving

•Time for feasting and giving thanks•Commemorative of Pilgrim’s celebration

of the good harvest of 1621 shared with Native Americans in Massachusetts

•President Lincoln established last Thursday in November as a day of thanksgiving in 1863

•1941: President Roosevelt moves it one week earlier

Thanksgiving (cont.)

•Most used as centerpieces▫Height and width need to be functional

•Candles often used•Accessories: birds, nests, berries, Indian

corn, gourds, colorful fruits/vegetables•Cornucopia/horn of plenty

▫Symbol of abundance▫Filled with fruits, vegetables, grains,

grasses, autumn-colored flowers/foliage

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Christmas

•Season begins following Thanksgiving•Centers on the events surrounding the

birth of Jesus •Many customs/beliefs: Santa; decoration

of lights, evergreen trees, wreaths, holly, ivy; feasting; caroling; gift-giving

•Fresh arrangements, wreaths, garlands•Poinsettias, dish gardens, gift baskets

Christmas (cont.)

•Variety of themes, styles, colors•Green and red traditional theme

▫Green: eternal life▫Red: blood spilt during the crucifixion

•Accessories added to enhance:▫Shiny glass/plastic balls▫Candles▫Ribbons▫Cones, berries, fruit, birds▫Candy canes, figurines, novelties

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Patriotic Holidays

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

•Also known as Civil/Human Rights Day•Celebrated on third Monday in January•Floral tributes, wreaths, decorations used

in celebrations and festivities honoring King and other civil rights leaders

Armed Forces Day

•Honors all branches of the military•Pay tribute to men and women of U.S.

military who are in service all over the world

•Third Saturday of May •Military exercises on land, sea, and air•Floral decorations, wreaths, centerpieces•Red, white, and blue flowers•Often incorporate military insignia and

color schemes

Memorial Day

•Last Monday in May•Honor all Americans who have given their lives for their country

▫Originally honored those who died in the Civil War

•Military exercises and programs held at national and local cemeteries throughout the country

Memorial Day (cont.)

•Red, white, blue floral tributes, wreaths, other decorations

•Flags placed on thousands of graves•Most common: potted chrysanthemums,

cut peonies, irises, and roses•Hand-tied bouquets, flat sprays, large radiating bouquets, wreaths, easel tributes

Flag Day

•June 14•Commemorates anniversary of the Flag Resolution of 1777

▫Stars and Stripes adopted as official flag of United States

•Red, white, and blue hand-tied bouquets, wreaths and other floral decorations popular

Independence Day• July 4• Anniversary of the day on which the

Declaration of Independence was adopted by Congress in 1776

• Parades, pageants, picnics, festivals, parties• Fireworks popular• Red, white, blue flowers• Hand-tied bouquets and centerpieces• Use red in lesser amounts due to intense

qualities▫Too much can overwhelm blues and whites

Labor Day

•Honor and pay tribute to the American worker▫Honors working people who provide so

much of the nation’s strength, leadership, and freedom

•First Monday in September•Time of rest and recreation•Symbolizes the end of summer•Flowers not common, can be used for

centerpieces for barbeques or parties

Patriot Day

•September 11•Honors the thousands of people who were

killed in the U.S. by acts of terrorism on September 11, 2001▫Includes first response/military

•Wrapped flowers, hand-tied bouquets, floral wreaths, other tributes

•Mostly red, white, and blue, but others popular

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Veterans Day

•November 11•Formerly called Armistice Day•Major hostilities of WWI formally ended

11th hour of 11th day of 11th month in 1918•Originally honored veterans of WWI

▫Now honors all veterans•Floral wreaths and other tributes used in

special activities▫Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

Honoring People & Professions

Administrative Professionals Day•Honors secretaries, administrative

assistants, and other professionals•Last full week of April from Sunday –

Saturday•Wednesday during that week is AP Day•Coffee mugs or other small novelty

containers▫Often don’t have much space on their desk

•Containers: stable, hold adequate water•Useful accessories: pens, pencils, small

picture frames, candy, gift cards, balloons

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Teacher Appreciation Day

•First full week in May▫Sunday to Saturday

•Day celebrated on Tuesday of that week•Corsages, boutonnieres, bud vases, floral

gift baskets, small mug designs•Creative accessories: chalk, markers,

apples, gift cards, balloons

National Nurses Day

•AKA: National RN Recognition Day•Honors nurses•May 6•May 6-12 Nurses Week•Banquets, seminars, community events•Floral arrangements & gift baskets

popular gifts from others who want to show their gratitude

National Boss Day

•Honor employers and supervisors•October 16

▫When a weekend, closest day to it•Boutonnieres, shoulder corsages, floral

arrangements, plants, dish gardens, gift baskets